Rolling sphere having means for accommodating an occupant therewithin



Dec. 4, 1962 w. J. GRAY 3,066,951

ROLLING SPHERE HAVING MEANS FOR ACCOMMODATING AN OCCUFANT THEREWITHIN Filed Aug. 18, 1960 WILL/A M GRA INVENTOR.

Afro/MD i tats This invention relates to a human tumble and float sphere that can be used for amusement or exercising purposes. In general the human tumble sphere consists of a spherical hard shell with a single ingress and egress opening, a cushioned interior to absorb the shock and a centrally positioned waistband for securing the body to the shell. Two hand or armstraps are positioned to exercise the upper body and arms a swell as to hold the body and head in a steady position while the human tumble sphere is in tumbling or rolling motion.

An obvious object of this invention is to provide an exercise and useful recreation device for children and adults alike that can be used on land or water and is relatively cheap to construct, safe to operate and easy to control.

Another object is to provide a device that permits the exercising of the body by the requirements of the body to hold various bent positions and the strap which permits the exercising of the upper body and arms by the changing of the position of the hands grasping the strap above the head.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sphere with easy ingress and egress and by the design of the opening still permitting the human tumble sphere to roll in all directions, even across the opening.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide a floating ball large enough to hold a human that can be used in water as well as on land for exercising, floating or various water maneuvers and games.

Now referring to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the sphere with a human being inside;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the sphere of FIGURE 1, in another rolling position;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the sphere,

FIGURE 4 is a view taken along line AA of FIG. 3.

Still referring to the accompanying drawings in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout the several views, the device of the present invention consists essentially of a spherical hollow hard shell 1 which can be fabricated of plastic, aluminum or other lightweight strong material. The shell l is large enough so that its interior capacity will accommodate a child or an adult in a bent over sitting or squatting position. The opening 2 for ingress and egress is of such a size to permit an average adult to easily pass through.

In the preferred embodiment the shell 1 is an aluminum sphere 36 inches in diameter, and the ingress and egress opening 2 to 16 inches in diameter. This would permit children and adults alike to enter, leave, and properly and safely utilize the human tumble sphere for the purposes for which it was constructed.

The limiting of the diameter of the opening 2 to about 16 inches permits the sphere in tumbling or rolling motion to roll over the open end with little disturbance and difficulty.

To prevent possible injury and help absorb shock, the interior of the shell 1 should be covered with a fabricated resilient shock absorbing material 4 such as foam rubber or the like. However, in the preferred embodiment only, the portion in which the body is in contact with the shell interior need be coated with foam rubber, thus minmizing the foam rubber surface, hence, the cost. This would Fates Fatented Dec.

mean that not more than A of the. surface interior need be covered.

In order to secure the body inside the shell 1 an adjustable waist strap 5 is provided. The waist strap 5 in the preferred embodiment is secured to the shell at two points about 20 inches apart so that when a human is sitting inside the shell 1 that the ingress and egress opening 2 is at his side and the waist band holds him in this centered position.

The preferred embodiment also has two handstraps 6 and 7 secured to the shell 1 interior at positions within the shell so that a human when seated or squatting within the shell 1 will be able to reach up above his shoulders and grab the handstraps 6 and 7 to hold his head and upper body against the shell interior during the tumbling and rolling movement of the human tumble sphere in operation. Also the straps permit varying the extension of the arms and the pressure and resistance required to maintain the body during tumbling and rolling motion. By a varying of the position of the body with relation to the waistbelt and the handstraps, the body, arms and neck can be exercised in varying positions while the amusement characteristic of the device is enjoyed.

By loosening the waiststrap or leaving it unfastened, the human inside the sphere can cause the sphere to maneuver and roll by the movement of his body within the sphere. Especially on flat surfaces in this manner a person can cause his own rolling or tumbling by varying his position within the sphere and without the need of outside assistance.

In the preferred embodiment, the waiststrap is about in line with the center line of the opening 2 and the two handstraps are perpendicular to the waiststrap and located so that a child or an adult would be able to reach up and grab the handstrap while disposed inside the shell.

Also in the preferred embodiment the foam rubber cushion for both comfort and additional safety is applied to the interior of the shell to cover in general an area extending between the handstraps and extending a short distance above the handstraps and below the waistband. This is to sufficiently cover the interior area which would contact the body of the person inside during tumbling or rolling motion.

In operation, the human tumble sphere would normally be used on an incline. The person would climb inside and fasten the waistbelt, reach up and grab the handstrap and be ready for a roll. Ordinarily the roll would be such that the sphere would rotate with the ingress and egress opening always out of contact with the ground. However, the sphere could rotate in such a way that the opening would be in the line of rotation and contact the ground. While the rotation of the sphere would be a little more bumpy, it nevertheless could and would be a functionable method of rotation.

For use in and around water the sphere is particularly adaptable. By a person maneuvering within the sphere by means of the handstraps and without the waistband, the sphere can be rolled from the shore into water and by maintaining the human weight so that the ingress and egress opening is out of contact with the water, the sphere will float, bob and spin. Also, by turning the sphere so that the. opening is completely submerged the sphere will act as an air trap preventing the ball from filling with water and permitting human survival within the partially submerged sphere and also making sinking of the sphere difficult.

In one embodiment the sphere is constructed in two hemispherical sections for ease of transporting. The hemispherical portions can then be carried to the location for use and assembled there by normal. fastening means.

From what has been described, it should be manifest that the device of the present invention has made an important and novel improvement to the field of human tumble spheres, particularly those for the combined purpose of amusing and exercising.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed:

In a device of the class described, a hardshelled hollow sphere just large enough to maintain a normal adult person in a bent position, said shell having a single round and non-covered opening for ingress and egress, and said opening being just large enough for admitting a normal adult person; an adjustable waiststrap secured to said shell interior so that said Waiststrap is disposed in a plane which bisects said ingress and egress opening, and so that a person crouched Within said shell With said Waiststrap about him Will always have said opening directly at his side; dual handstraps secured to said shell interior at locations that will require a person Within the shell and with said Waistband fastened about him to reach above his head to grasp said handstrap, one of said handstraps being disposed to the persons right and the other of said handstrap disposed to the persons left; a resilient padding on said shell interior limited to and covering the seat, back and head contact area in said shell interior when a person is in the normal operating, strapped in position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNETED STATES PATENTS 2,716,561 Beran Aug. 30, 1955 2,758,660 Bouffort Aug. 14, 1956 2,838,022 Wilson June 10, 1958 2,923,545 Lytle Feb. 2, 1960' 2,938,727 Nosak May 31, 1969 3,013,806 Boyd Dec. 19, 1961 FOREEGN PATENTS 1,223,481 France Feb. 1, 1961) 

